AP Psych Unit 0 Vocab

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Scientific Method

A self-correcting process for evaluating ideas with observation and analysis.

Behavior

Anything an organism does; any action that we observe and record.

Mental Processes

Our internal, subjective experiences.

Peer Review Process

Scientists who are experts evaluate a study, then journal editors use peer reviews to decide if a study should be published.

Theory

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

Falsifiability

The possibility that an idea, hypothesis or theory can be disproven by observation or experiment.

Operational Definition

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study.

Replication

Repeating the essence of a research study to see whether the basic findings can be reproduced.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate or control the situation.

Empirical Data

Evidence that comes from research.

Survey

A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes, opinions or behaviors of people.

Sampling Bias

The people surveyed don’t accurately represent the larger group that researchers are interested in.

Convenience Sampling

A method of sampling that involves collecting samples from easily accessible locations or sources.

Population

All individuals who can potentially participate in the study.

Generalizable

The findings in the study can be applied to the entire population.

Representative Sample

The characteristics of the sample are very similar to those of the population.

Random Sample

Everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen for the experiment.

Correlational Research

Non-experimental research method that describes the relationship between two or more variables.

Correlation

Statistical measure of the extent to which two variables are related.

Positive Correlation

A correlation in which two variables move in the same direction.

Negative Correlation

A correlation in which two variables move in opposite directions.

Directionality Problem

The situation in which it is known that two variables are related, although it is not known which is the cause and which is the effect.

Third Variable Problem

When a third variable causes a correlation between two other variables to appear as if they have a causal relationship.

Reliability

Refers to the degree to which the study’s results are stable and consistent.

Validity

Refers to the likelihood that differences in the dependent variable are actually caused by the independent variable.

Quantitative Research Methods

Use numerical data to represent degrees of a variable.

Qualitative Data

Gather in-depth, narrative data.

Experiment

Research method where the researcher manipulates one variable and observes the effect on another variable.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated.

Experimental Group

The group that receives the treatment in an experiment.

Control Group

Comparison group that does NOT receive the treatment.

Placebo Effect

Experimental results caused by expectations alone.

Random Assignment

All members of the sample have an equal chance of being placed into either group.

Confounding Variable

A factor other than the independent variable that might influence a study’s results.

Hawthorne Effect

Research participants behave differently because they are being observed.

Institutional Review Board

A group that determines if a proposal for a study is ethical.

Informed Consent

Participants are informed about aspects of the study and then sign a form.

Deception

Misleading participants about the nature of an experiment.

Debrief

Researchers must reveal all information about the study at its conclusion.

Mean

The arithmetic average of the scores.

Median

The midpoint of a data distribution.

Mode

The most frequently occurring score.

Bimodal Distribution

A distribution with two modes.

Normal Distribution

Scores are distributed symmetrically around the mean.

Standard Deviation

A measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.

Descriptive Statistics

Organize and describe data sets.

Meta Analysis

A procedure for analyzing results of multiple studies to reach an overall conclusion.